Coll 29/77 'Appointment of an RAF Liaison Officer for the Persian Gulf, with headquarters at Bahrain' [‎7r] (13/58)

SECRET.
Reference No.
3,10805/13.
Air Headquarters,
British Forces in ’Iraq,
Hinaidi.
17th December, 1935.
My dear Fowle,
I am writing to you on the subject of the Royal
Air Force Intelligence System.
As you Imow, we still maintain our own Intelligence
system in 'Iraq, and an officer for intelligence duties is
stationed at each of the following places - Mosul, Sulaimania
Baghdad and Basrah. In deference to ’Iraqi susceptibilities,
they are not called "Intelligence Officers", but are known
as "Air Liaison Officers". These officers render reports
direct to Air Headquarters on all tribal and military
intelligence which would be absolutely essential to us
should we be called upon to come to the assistance of
’Iraq under the terms of the Treaty. They also form the
nucleus of a more extensive intelligence system which
would become necessary should we have to come to the
assistance of ’Iraq under the terms of the Treaty.
As regards the Persian G-ulf, this work has hitherto
been done by Coates, who is borne on the establishment of
No. 203 Squadron as Intelligence Recording Officer.
Now that our commitments in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. have
increased and are increasing, the Air Ministry is very
anxious to extend our existing system by appointing an
i Air Liaison Officer for the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . There is, for
I example, the measure of protection for QATAR which we have
recently undertaken to provide. One of the conditions
under which we agreed to guarantee that protection was that
"certain air facilities, such as air intelligence
organisation must be provided," I understand, also,that
at the 42nd Meeting of the Middle East (Official) Sub
committee, one of the recommendations was "that the Air
Officer Commanding in ’Iraq might be informed that inter
vention on land in the Trucial Shaikhdoms was an additional
commitment which he might in certain circumstances be
called upon to meet". I have not yet seen a copy of the
Minutes of that meeting, but I hope to receive one from
the Air Ministry in the near future.
In the circumstances, therefore, it appears most
desirable that we should appoint an Air Liaison Officer
for the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , and I think the obvious place to
locate him would be at BAHREIN, where he would be in close
touch with the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. .
Lieutenant Colonel T.C. Fowle, C.B.E. ,
Hon. Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ,
The Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. ,
BUSHIRS.
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